If the name St. Mark the Evangelist sounds familiar, it’s likely because you recognize it from the gospel he wrote, or perhaps you know him as being an early follower of Christ. Do we know more about him beyond this though, especially today on his feast day?
I set out to get to know this early Christian saint by studying his table, or more specifically, the food that he ate and may have shared with Jesus.
St. Mark lived during the time of Christ. He studied under St. Peter and traveled with St. Paul. He was born in modern-day Libya and moved with his mother to Jerusalem. They lived in a large house with an upper room, suggesting that his family belonged to a higher class. It’s speculated that his mother’s home was the location of the Last Supper. (“Saint Mark the Evangelist,” n.d.)
Upon discovering this, I began to wonder about the food served on St. Mark’s table. We know there was bread and wine at the Last Supper. We can read of the ingredients that make up a Passover meal, but what other foods did they eat? The food that St. Mark would have eaten is likely the same as that our Lord ate while on earth.
Researchers have studied the geography of the area to determine what crops, animals, and seafood would have been readily available. During the time of Christ, the typical diet for Israelis was primarily made up of bread, fish, lamb, legumes, vegetables, dates, pomegranates, onions, honey, and olive oil. (Aragones, n.d.)
Research also confirms that the farm land near the Sea of Galilee was a fertile area where farmers grew date palms, citrus and fig trees, olives, and grapevines. Other key crops included wheat, barley, lentils, and chickpeas that grew in the valleys and plains. In higher elevations, pistachio trees provided big crops. (Williams, 2024)
As for sources of meat and seafood, local farmers raised sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and donkeys. The Sea of Galilee was a favored source of fish such as tilapia, catfish, and sardines, and, as we may remember from the story of Peter, fishermen made daily ventures onto the lake for their catches. (Williams, 2024)
According to the Mosaic law, Jewish meals were prepared following a certain set of rules. Raw meat was forbidden and needed salting before cooking; fruits and vegetables were cleansed from all insects; and cooking utensils were separated between dairy and meat preparations. Cooking was done over open fires or clay ovens, and food was boiled, baked, roasted, or grilled, following the guidelines of kashrut for cooking. (Wight, n.d.)
Meals would be served in single dishes, and diners did not use knives, forks, or spoons but ate by using pieces of bread. Food was served at low tables, and guests reclined on floor pillows around it. The most important guests would be seated next to the main guest.
Based on the Gospel of Mark, the Last Supper took place on the “first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb.” Strangely, not every authority agrees on whether lamb was served at Christ’s Passover meal, but we know that wine and unleavened bread were present. Other dishes likely included beans, olives, bitter herbs, fish sauce, dates, and an aromatic wine. (Codilla, 2017)
Contemplating St. Mark’s table and the food that he may have shared with Christ made me think of the heavenly banquet I hope to share with them one day. Researching the foods common to the time and place that our Lord lived and realizing the overlap with the meals I prepare and the food I like to eat made me feel connected to Him. I intend to bring these meditations with me into the kitchen, so that it may bless my food and so that my cooking may become a prayer expressed for the love of God!
Photo by Joanie Simon on Unsplash
Aragones, S. (n.d.). What did people eat in early biblical times? Aleteia. https://aleteia.org/2020/02/09/what-did-people-eat-in-old-testament-times/.
Codilla, F. (2017, May 3). What did Jesus and the disciples eat at the Last Supper? Christian Today. https://www.christiantoday.com/article/what-did-jesus-and-the-disciples-eat-at-the-last-supper/108284.htm.
“Saint Mark the Evangelist.” (n.d.). My Catholic Life. https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/april-25-saint-mark-the-evangelist/.
Wight, F.H. (n.d.). Customs at mealtime. Ancient Hebrew Research Center. https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/manners/customs-at-mealtime.htm.
Williams, A. (2024, March 19). What Did Jesus Eat? Christian Website. https://www.christianwebsite.com/what-did-jesus-eat/.
